29/12/2020 Elton Reservoir, Bolton

Greater Scaup: Staying within Greater Manchester today combined with a short trip to the office and I thought I would check out the local scaup.

This was my second visit Elton to see this drake scaup and I was surprised to see how much it had undergone a transformation as it leaves its eclipse plumage to its adult plumage. 

The bird had also moved into a more sheltered inlet area on the west side of the lake. There was high congregation of water birds here with several tufted duck, kingfisher, teal, mute swan and  two little egret. 

Here is a side-by-side comparison of the same bird, the top image was taken on the 15th of October and the bottom image today. 

The bird has changed from it's mottled brown head to almost full adult plumage with no white blaze around the face.

28/12/2020 Brickcroft Nature Reserve, Longton, Preston

Red-crested Pochard: Today was a day of two halfs, after waking up to snow here in Wigan and playing with the baby. I ended the day collecting some photography studio equipment from Preston where there was no snow at all!

Seeing as I was already in Preston picking up this studio kit which I will use for work purposes. I thought I would stop off at the Brickcroft Nature Reserve. Brickcroft Nature Reserve is situated west of the A59, southwest of Preston on the edge of Longton village. 

There had been reports of a drake RCP on the main lakes here for over a month, but with Christmas and the tightening of the Covid restrictions I thought it best not to travel. 

When I arrived the bird was on the largest southern lake, unfortunately the bird was clearly associating with mallard and wasn't shy, I even saw it come to bread that some family had brought to feed the ducks.

I have even been told by Stuart Darbyshire that its sporting a red ring on its leg. All of which leads me to believe this is not a genuine, bonafide, truly wild RCP. Nevertheless and regardless of its credibility it was still nice to be out of the house seeing a decent bird.

If anyone wants to see my professional work photography page, please check it out below.

https://austinmorleyphotography.com/

18/12/2020 Letcombe Regis, Oxfordshire

Great Bustard: Today I was carrying out some work near Swindon and after I was done I thought I would use what little time I had left of the afternoon to go and see the great bustard that has taken up residence in a stubble field outside of Oxford. Although it may not be considered acceptable to the purists this would still be my fisrt ever great bustard. 

These magnificent birds sadly became extinct in the UK back in 1832 and thankfully reintroduced on to Salisbury Plain in 2004 by the Great Bustard Group. 

http://greatbustard.org/

This particular individual has been identified as a male from Wiltshire, identified by a pink ring on its leg.  This bird had known to have left the main group for its first winter and will likely return to Salisbury Plain next year.

By the time I arrived I in the village of Wantage the soft winter sun was setting fast and before I knew it I was shooting in the dark. Despite the awful light conditions the bird showed well and I was blown away by it. They are seriously great birds and a real joy to watch. 

 

15/12/2020 Bickershaw Rucks

Short-eared Owl: After dropping Autumn at the childminders I spent the morning on some rough ground at the back of Brecon Drive where a shotie had been reported. 

This rough ground is just north of Bickershaw Rucks which was only 10 minutes away from my front door. Rucks is a local word that seems to indicate old pit workings. These go wild and are reclaimed by nature and present good wildlife habitat.

Almost as soon as I arrived the owl did a 'fly by' right in front of the back gardens to Brecon Drive before perching in some trees opposite the school. 

Shorties have distinctive mottled brown plumage with pale under-wings and striking yellow eyes that betray this as a daytime hunter. Increasingly, this species seems to be overwintering in Britain, when before most either migrated to the north English moors or to continental Europe – as an amber listed species, this is good news.

If anyone intends on going please note - wellies are essential.  

30/11/2020 Marshside, Southport

Grey Phalarope: This bird had spent a few days on Rimmers Marsh, which is located at the back of Marshside opposite Stanley High School.  This is the second  grey pahl that has been recorded this year at Marshside, and thankfully this one was much more visible than the last.

 The weather had been a mixed bag during the week and as usual I had been busy with work so when the opportunity to  do some work close to Southport came I jumped at the chance. 

Phalaropes have a very strange way of feeding, by spinning around and around in the water to bring small creatures to the surface, picking up this food without slowing down as they frantically spin. 

Pretty cols to watch. 

This bird didn't stop feeding and spinning and drew a small crowd. Again being outside there was plenty of space to social distance and everyone was well behaved.   

07/11/2020 Crosby Marina, Liverpool

Long-tailed Duck: Between the busy shops and fast food outlets of South Road in Waterloo and the Antony Gormley cast iron men that stand like soldiers guarding Crosby beach lies Crosby Marina Lake.

The waters of the marine lake often holds good numbers of diving ducks like goldeneye and tufted duck, as well as great crested grebes, and especially after storms, other aquatic specialists taking refuge from bad weather. 

Over the last two years or so there has been a wintering long-tailed duck often on the smaller boating lake keeping away from the much busier activity centre lake. When I saw the bird last year it kept itself to itself and stayed far out in the middle small boating lake, this time the bird was much more confident and showy! 

This was just incredible, I've seen many across the country in my time, but never like this. The bird wasn't bothered by the dog walker, children and passersby. 

With lockdown 2.0 now here it was great to get out with the family, have a pleasant walk outside with the baby and fit in some birding. I couldn't recommend it enough to everyone, if you can keep yourself and others safe get out there and enjoy the autumnal weather. 

15/10/2020 Elton Reservoir, Bolton

Greater Scaup: With Lockdown 2 looming I was keen to capitalise on any small opportunity I can get to go out birding. So when dawn asked me to collect a parcel from Whitefield after work today I jumped at the chance. 

As I was passing Elton Reservoir  I thought I would stop and see if I could relocate the greater scaup that has been there for a few days and also the bar-tailed godwit that's taken up residence there. 

It didn't take long to pick up the scratty looking 1st winter drake scaup as it was feeding con its own lose to Capsticks.   

The bar-wit was was also foraging in its usual flooded field, viewed from the muddy track around the res. 

Losing the light and with the rain clouds moving in fast I didn't hang around the res for too long and made my way to the shop to collect Dawns parcel. 

27/10/2020 Meols, Wirral

Snow Bunting: The coast and the Dee estuary have always attracted the snow bunting and they are now a fairly regular winter visitor to the Wirral coast. 

The two birds were very confiding and seem to ignore the presence of humans whether they were walking past, cycling or walking their dogs they weren't phased and continued to forage on the embankment of the sea defences along the prom. 

Seeing that they were showing incredibly well, once I had finished work I headed over just in time to catch the last of the diminishing Autumn light. 

And I'm glad I made the effort as they were walking right up to me, within two or three feet. 

The one thing I have to comment on are the bone-headed selfish members of the public who without any consideration of what I and the other birders and those with cameras were obviously doing decided still to walk right past our shots. A little courtesy wouldn't have gone a miss!  

This is probably the world’s land bird that breeds furthest north, seeking treeless barren tracts for its nesting sites in the Arctic Circle and nearby. Although a few nest in the tops of the Cairngorms, it is mainly a rare winter visitor to our coasts, particularly the east coast.

The two birds can be found 100m north from Meols Parade. along the promenade heading towards Leasowe.  

Black Redstart: Another great bird that was in the area was this cracking black redstart. It was frequenting the garden of 292 along Meols Parade. 

The bird kept its distance while foraging on the lawn and driveway of the house and regularly few up onto the roof and garage. 

Common Buzzard: I do love this part of the North West, I always have a feeling that it would be a nice place to live. Somewhere you can find scares birds and somewhere you can see interesting birds, unlike Wigan. 

Maybe one day when I win the lottery!

18/10/2020 Stiffkey, North Norfolk

Rufus Bush Robin:  This awesome Autumn keeps on delivering, this time a bird that hasn't been seen in the UK for over 40 years! 

This bird goes by many names including rufous scrub robin, rufous bush chat, rufous bush robin and even rufous warbler.

Whatever you want to call it this bird was a total magnet for twitchers. Of which there was a lot of talk about the current Covid restrictions. Let me set things straight if you live in Tier 1 or Tier 2 there are no travel restrictions and you allowed to travel long distances for birding/twitching. You are not breaking the guidance or law if you do so.

Also the local police were on site offering advice and keeping an eye on the large crowd of which in the most part was socially distance and where this wasn't possible people wore face coverings, again as advised by the current Covid guidance.  

If you have a problem with anyone traveling to see a rare bird who has kept to the government's Covid guidelines I suggest you keep it to yourself.

Anyway back to the bird. it was showing on and off between foraging in the suaeda and occasionally perching up. Thrilled to have seen it.  

Stay safe everyone. 

16/10/2020 Trow Quarry, South Shields

Taiga Flycatcher: Formerly considered a subspecies of the red-breasted flycatcher, very similar in appearance. There are a few subtle differences one being its bill, Taiga's have an almost completely dark bill. In comparison, the bill colour of a red-breasted fly is variable and can range from completely dark (like Taiga) to partly pale.   

With this in mind there are some doubts surrounding the species of this bird in some quarters. But DNA from the bird along with sonogram recording of its call have all been taken so hopefully there will be a definitive answer given soon to put all the naysayers to bed! 

The bird originates from eastern Europe, Russia and Siberia and winters in south east Asia and China.  

This individual had settled in a old quarry along the prom in South Shields, favoring the steep rocky cliff and dense scrub areas at the foot of the cliff. 

Luckily I was scheduled to work on a site that was located 30 minutes away from here. Nice when these planets align and these golden opportunities come up.

After work I went down to South Gare to see the short-toed lark, a tricky little blighter it was pretty distant and hard to pick up amongst the stocky, shingle bank.